Information on the Fifth Forum of Inter-agency Working Group on Eastern Europe and Central Asia for sexual and reproductive health in crisis

Information on the Fifth Forum of Inter-agency Working Group on Eastern Europe and Central Asia for sexual and reproductive health in crisis situations, organized by the Fund for the United Nations Population (UNFPA) and the International Federation for Family Planning (IPPF), held from 18-20.10.2016, in Kiev, Ukraine

Within the professional cooperation between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Macedonia, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),and Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Macedonia, as a National focal point in the field of training and the health care crisis in the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (decision N.12-3179/1 from 21.03.2006 year) prof. Dr. Mihail Kocubovski chaired the fifth Forum of Inter-agency Working Group on Eastern Europe and Central Asia for sexual and reproductive health in crisis.The Macedonian team comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Health Mrs. Sanja Sazdovska and Ms. Nermina Fakovikj Mrs. Aphrodita Shala Plavjanska by UNFPA and Ms. Vesna Matevska by HERA. Caspar Peek, UNFPA and Lena Lukfasel, Program Director of IPPF Brussels had the opening speech.

All representatives expressed their expectations and goals of the meeting,and the Action plan of inter-agency working group for Eastern Europe and Central Asia for sexual and reproductive health in crisis.

Sophie Pekurt,a consultant in preparation for emergencies and Nadine Kornier, Advisor aid for sexual and reproductive rights at UNFPA explained the inter-agency response and the report by the World Humanitarian Summit with a focus on sexual and reproductive health was explained by Emmanuel Rusier of UNFPA.

Lena Lukfasel, Programme Director of IPPF presented the results of a questionnaire on the role of the Supervisory Committee and the sustainability of inter-agency working group and future opportunities. Chairman of the Steering Committee Prof. Dr. Mihail Kocubovski and two other members from Georgia and Uzbekistan gave a brief overview of their activities and suggestions for improving the performance.

Sanja Sazdovska as a responsible for sexual and reproductive health by the Ministry of Health and Aphrodite Shala of the UNFPA office in Macedonia, presented the activities implemented by the Action Plan 2016, the successes and the challenges that Macedonia have had, to deliver the needs of sexual and reproductive health migrants / refugees in the country.

Safe hospitals initiative of the WHO and its importance was presented by Mikhail Pisla, a scientific researcher at the National Center for Public Health in Moldova.

Also, the Draft Action Plan for 2017 was presented by the participating countries.

Prof. Dr. Mihail Kocubovski from Macedonia was reelected as a Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Inter-agency Working Group on Eastern Europe and Central Asia for sexual and reproductive health in crisis situations in the next two years.

Taking part were 68 representatives from 21 countries from the Ministries of Health, Institutes of Public Health, UNFPA, IPPF and civic associations in the field of sexual and reproductive health.